Mosul dam, Iraq
The Mosul dam in Iraq is notable as it is founded on gypsum, a water soluble rock, typically used in plasterboard the world over.
News reports in 2017 covered the fact that the dam needed permanent maintenance to replace the gypsum rock with concrete and that had not been completed due to ISIS terrorists in the area. Leading to the headline 'Mosul Dam could collapse at any minute 'killing 1.5 million people'.
Built by Saddam Hussein to supply water, the costs of removing gypsum and replacing it would be too high, so an engineered approach was taken, requiring a permanent team of maintenance workers constantly replacing and repairing the dam.
--JC5
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
A quick introduction to a very complicated subject.
CIOB suggests the economic reach of construction is double the official figures.
Center for Sustainable Landscapes
The first US building to achieve BREEAM Outstanding In-Use.
70 buildings from 70 years of Concrete Quarterly. Book review.
An early stressed-skin structure
Conserving the iron roof at the Albert Dock.
People, principles and performance
Delivering an infrastructure revolution.
The admissibility of evidence.
How many can you name? 37 anyone?
CIOB respond to the points-based system.
When is the weather considered 'exceptionally adverse'?
ECA backs call for a rolling programme of rail electrification.